Carson-Seiler break through at CCC Member-Guest

PLYMOUTH – Somewhere out there, William and Roberta Carson are smiling.

Tim Carson, son of the late Canasawacta Country Club owners, teamed up with longtime partner Scott Seiler to win the 53rd Annual CCC Men’s Member-Guest championship Saturday.

As darkness befell the championship flight players, Carson and Seiler outlasted steady rain and perhaps the deepest and most talented field of players in the long history of the tourney.

Carson, wearing one of his dad’s favorite shirts underneath his rain gear, captured the title on the golden anniversary of his father’s member-guest title in 1961. “I was very aware that this was the 50th anniversary of my dad’s win,” Carson said. “I feel his presence all of the time, but today it was no more than usual.”

Ever since the two longtime friends came together, they’ve found themselves contending for that elusive title. Four of the previous five years, Carson and Seiler finished in the runner-up position. In most of those cases, they held the lead after the first or second round of the 54-hole tournament.

After firing a second-round 64, the two were again in the familiar position of leading the field – this time by three strokes over 2009 champions Jim Gorski and Lee Skillin.

Gorski and Skillin were in jeopardy of missing the championship flight for the second straight year, but an incredible stretch on holes one through four on Friday pushed them into contention. The 2009 champions played the first four holes in just 10 strokes – three birdies and an eagle two on the par-four third hole.

Carson and Seiler took turns posting the red numbers on Friday. Seiler had four birdies and an eagle, while Carson saw his birdies come on the back nine.

At 11-under-par through two rounds, Carson and Seiler were clearly in command, but could they finish the deal this time? “My partner is a little more steady than me, and he didn’t have to make any changes this year,” Carson said. “I definitely had a different plan on how to finish this tournament.Winning this was very important to us and there are a lot of good players here. No one was going to lay down for us, and I definitely had a different mental approach.”

While the morning groups in the last three flights were able to play out their final 18 holes, teams in the top-half of the field had to endure steady precipitation that varied from a light sprinkle, to a drizzle, and ultimately a driving rain that forced a stoppage of play at the midpoint of the round. Most teams on the course had finished no more than 10 holes, and several greens on the front nine were unplayable due to the build-up of casual water.